For today’s comic book review I read Tales To Astonish #50, containing the “Giant-man and the wonderful Wasp Battling The Human Top!” But also being the first part of a two-part story (our second two-part story reviewed this week!)

This one, gives us a good focus and background for the menace of the issue, whom is nothing more than a criminal and bully named David Cannon and  known as The Human Top.

The story is told to us, almost like a background for David, starting when he was young and leading  us to the current time,  and then showing us how Giant-man almost does not see this common criminal as worth his time. Giant-Man however is quickly proven wrong, in his failed attempt to apprehend the talented criminal.

Story

The story was well written and offers a lot of depth for character development, and background. It is by far a stunning example of what Jack & Stan can do when they put there names on the cover of a comic book. event he dialogue is fairly well done, while nodding to the known corniness of it, as well as the tenancy for a hero to give a long speech.

Art

I thought that the artwork of this issue was quite well done, in fact, nearly perfect.  I feel there are still some scale issues with the size of Giant man, but I imagine that can be a tough thing to address.  the main panel that comes to mind is when Giant-Man appears to be jumping over the subway terminal.  it is hard to say for sure, but to me he looks more like Three times normal height then two.  This is not as  big a problem in this issue as last, and I don’t hold it too much against the otherwise outstanding artwork.

Originality & Continuity

I feel this story works well to fit in with the ongoing continuity, continuing the use of the Giant-Man persona that was introduced last issue, but this time tying the ant’s back into it.  it is clear that the nature of our hero’s and there stories are changing,   this issue does a good job of showing what i think is a middle stepping ground.

Characters & Development for Giant-Man and The Wasp

The giant-man and the wasp are developing quite well, in this issue we see them outside of combat more than we normally do. In this we see just how focused he is on crime fighting, and improving his abilities and skills, once he learns that he has room for improvement still.

We also see the Ant’s serving two roles, the first is the same one they performed when he was Ant-Man, and that is of informants of criminal activity.

The second, is also like they did for Ant-man and that is as assistance to the crime fighter, but this issue we see the wasp taking control and communicating with the Ant’s.

Janet Van’ Dyne love interest: Hank Pym

This issue also gives us several more points where we get a good idea just how much The Wasps, or Janet Van’ Dyne cares for Dr. Hank Pym.

I have included just one panel of many in this issue that shows this.  From issue to issue we also see steady signs of Dr. Pym weakening a little on this subject,   but often times we see him raising his guard again.

His activity and thoughts on this are not near as spelled out to us as hers however.  but his reasons for not easily accepting her companionship where established back in Tales To Astonish #44.